25 Homes Evacuated In Tuolumne Fire

A fire consumed thirty acres of brush in a rural part of Tuolumne County, prompting the evacuation of about 25 homes, a spokesman with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Thursday.

The fire, which started Wednesday about 11 p.m., is five percent contained, but is being aggressively attacked so it can be brought into control before temperatures climb and humidity levels decrease, spokesman Daniel Berlant said.

"We have a lot of resources on it this morning," said Berlant, explaining that although the area is rugged and sparsely populated, the agency reacts vigorously any time homes are in danger.

The fire agency has 17 fire engines, eight inmate crews, two helicopter and four bulldozers already on site, and they're evaluating the need for air tankers, Berlant said.

"The fire's burning in heavy fuels, which makes it difficult to attack," Berlant said.

"It's a moderate slope, with thick, overgrown trees and vegetation."

An investigator was dispatched to research the cause of the fire, but nothing is known yet, Berlant said.

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